While Massachusetts sports betting fans have been waiting for sportsbooks to become legal within the state, unfortunately, it appears that they’ll wait at least a few more months.
The Senate took no action on the bill Wednesday. Since the legislature is finishing up business this week, it’s unlikely that anything will happen regarding sports betting before they adjourn. The bill passed quickly through the House of Representatives. Now, it’s been on the Senate’s docket since July and hasn’t seemed to progress.
Is a Super Bowl pass possible?
There was hope that legal sportsbooks would be available in MA this year, especially after it passed in the House in July. Now, it appears that the bill won’t begin the Senate approval process until the legislature returns to action in 2022.
Of course, this is particularly annoying for New England Patriots and NFL fans. With only a few months left in the pro football season, time is running out to wager.
There’s no way to tell precisely when a 2022 release would happen. Still, sportsbook betting fans hope the state could be ready to launch in time for the Super Bowl on Sunday, Feb. 13.
The Super Bowl is always one of the most popular games to wager on, and MA won’t want to miss out on the potential money bet that day. The state will forgo a significant amount of money if sportsbooks aren’t live by then.
Massachusetts sports betting dollars go out of state
As Massachusetts shuffles its feet, nearly every state surrounding it offers legal sports betting now. Many continue to travel outside the state borders over to New Hampshire and Connecticut for their sportsbook needs.
For many MA residents, it’s extremely easy to go to NH or CT to place sports bets. A quick trip over states’ lines allows you to bet on games online with some quality sports betting apps.
Both states feature a DraftKings Sportsbook, while CT includes a few other options like FanDuel and SugarHouse. You don’t have to be a resident in the state to bet legally, but you must be there in person while putting your action down.
Two other nearby states in New York and Rhode Island also provide legal sports betting.
Clearly, there’s great interest in sportsbooks in the northeastern states. It makes sense for MA to leverage the revenue opportunities, considering the popularity of the Boston-based teams and colleges in the region.
The longer the state goes without passing a law allowing legal sportsbook betting in the state, the more money it misses out on for important programs.
